Virtual receptionist in Jonesboro, AR: cost vs in-house
Jonesboro is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $32,540 a year1 is 6.6% below the Arkansas statewide median of $34,840, and 14.4% below the US median of $38,010. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#431 of 521). About 670 virtual receptionists work here, 6% of the Arkansas total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Jonesboro, AR. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Jonesboro against Arkansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, AR | $27,880 | $32,540 | $39,420 | |
| Arkansas | $27,610 | $34,840 | $43,930 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Jonesboro earns $30,760–$36,000. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $39,420, only 1.4 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $5,240 wide, against $7,030 across Arkansas and $11,170 nationally: employers in Jonesboro pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a virtual receptionist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,880 | $2,323 | $13.40 | $35,974 |
| 25th percentile | $30,760 | $2,563 | $14.79 | $39,690 |
| Median | $32,540 | $2,712 | $15.64 | $41,987 |
| 75th percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17.31 | $46,452 |
| 90th percentile | $39,420 | $3,285 | $18.95 | $50,865 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $3,460 over the median, the 25th only $1,780 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $4,465 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $38,010 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in Jonesboro, and the Arkansas statewide median of $34,840 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local virtual receptionists earn.
What a hire really costs in Jonesboro
At the $32,540 median, a local hire costs about $41,987 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $9,447 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for virtual receptionists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Jonesboro
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 15 roles we track in Jonesboro; project coordinators have the highest, at $66,430.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +16.3% | 40 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +13.0% | 730 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +12.9% | 90 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +10.3% | 380 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 670 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #4 of the 15 roles we track in Jonesboro (-14.4%), between payroll specialists (-13.5%) and customer support specialists (-17.9%). The typical role here is at -24.3%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Jonesboro than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 16.1% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Jonesboro, 10.3% across Arkansas and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Arkansas
Across the 9 areas of Arkansas with data for this job, the median runs from $31,210 in the East Arkansas nonmetro area to $36,080 in Fayetteville-Springdale, a gap of $4,870 a year. Of the 4 areas in Arkansas with more virtual receptionists than Jonesboro, 1 pays less: the South Arkansas nonmetro area ($32,130).
| Area | Median | vs Jonesboro | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | +10.0% | 3,390 | |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | +5.4% | 1,060 | |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | +4.5% | 630 | |
| Jonesboro, AR | this area | 670 | |
| Hot Springs, AR | -1.0% | 400 | |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -1.3% | 820 | |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -3.8% | 520 |
Jonesboro against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Jonesboro is #253 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Arkansas, Augusta-Richmond County and Warner Robins pay just above Jonesboro and Hinesville and Fayetteville just below. All four are within $190 a year of the median in Jonesboro. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Jonesboro | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | +40.8% | 670 | jobs | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | +22.4% | 670 | jobs | |
| Springfield, IL | +12.2% | 670 | jobs | |
| Warner Robins, GA | +0.6% | 350 | pay | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | +0.5% | 1,190 | pay | |
| Jonesboro, AR | this area | 670 | ||
| Hinesville, GA | -0.1% | 60 | pay | |
| Fayetteville, NC | -0.2% | 450 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Jonesboro, AR?
About $41,987 a year at the median, or $3,499 a month: $32,540 in pay plus about $9,447 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Jonesboro?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $32,540 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,880, the 90th $39,420, and the middle half earned $30,760 to $36,000.
Is Jonesboro cheaper than the rest of Arkansas for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $32,540 against $34,840 statewide. The next area up in Arkansas is Fort Smith at $34,000, the next down Hot Springs at $32,210.
How many virtual receptionists work in Jonesboro?
BLS counts about 670 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Arkansas total of 10,870. 4 areas in Arkansas have more; the closest in size is the South Arkansas nonmetro area, with about 820.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an administrative assistant in Jonesboro?
No: $3,360 a year less at the median. The medians are $32,540 and $35,900.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4171: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.